For this first little blog milestone I wanted to share a few tips I have recently heard in a Habits of Success podcast episode. The episode titled “7 Laws of Waking Up Early” uncovered 7 tips that if implemented in your morning routine can help you get a better head start to your day, and I have summarized them for you below.
- Get your feet on the floor
It is no secret that it can feel nearly impossible to get out of a warm, cozy bed in the morning, but putting your feet on the floor for even 30 seconds could save you 30 minutes you otherwise would’ve spent in your bed.
- Move your alarm from your bed
This tip is a little funny to me because we’re all aware that doing so will guarantee that we’ll get out of bed quickly, but we try our best to ignore this idea and put our phones or alarm clocks within an arm’s reach. Now, you have to be considerate of those living with you and whether they will hear your alarm, but if anything this can be an even bigger motivator for you to get out of bed and turn it off.
- Go towards the light
Turn your lights on ASAP. Open your blinds, and try to spend a couple minutes in a well-lit area. Once again, be considerate if there are others sleeping in the room, so perhaps this source of light can be your bathroom or the kitchen.
- Move your body
This most definitely sounds a lot easier than it actually is to do, but it’s the reality – you need to actually get up. It is ideal if you can get a workout in, or even a simple 5 to 10 minutes morning stretch, but even a couple laps around your home will help you feel a lot more awake after you get out of bed.
- Get hydrated
It is essential to start your morning off with rehydrating your body post-sleep. It will not just help you feel awake, but it will also help you feel physically better throughout the day. Start off your day with a glass of lemon water, and you will notice the changes very soon.
- Have a plan B if you know you will snooze
We don’t always succeed immediately after implementing a habit, and it is okay. Whether you are trying to start waking up 1 hour or 3 hours earlier than your usual waking up time, it can be difficult at first. This is a tip I use on the days when I know I might struggle with getting up on my first try, and the solution is simple – set multiple alarms. Set them before your intended time of waking up, and hopefully by your last alarm you will feel more awake.
- Have purpose and excitement
Do you need help waking up early on your birthday or on Christmas? Unless you got a headstart on celebrating, the chances are you will be wide awake around 7 am ready to get to celebrating. Even though most of these occasions happen once or a few times a year, you can make your own personal celebrations happen. Plan something exciting for the next day, whether it is a small treat for yourself or an exciting activity. Sometimes, you will be surprised by how little it takes to get yourself excited for something, and your overall quality of life will improve.
Make sure to check out Habits of Success on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more productivity and health tips and remember that, with enough willpower, you can achieve it all!